More than 30 years ago I came home from Vietnam. I was one of the fortunate
veterans in that I was never in any great danger during my thirteen month tour
of duty there. But then when you were eighteen nothing scares you.
I went to Vietnam in December of 1966. I had graduated from high school
just six months prior. I arrived in Da Nang on a C-130 transport plane
from Okinawa. From there I was assigned to
the 3rd Marine Tank Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

I rode in the back of a 6x6 truck to the 3rd Tank Battalion compound
located on Hill
34, southwest of Da Nang. We were near the village of Phonc Bac.
I was assigned to the supply platoon of the H&S company. In the
"rear with the gear" was fine for me. The commanding officer of the
battalion was Lieutenant Colonel William R. Corson, who later wrote the
book "Betrayal", a critical look at the war
in Vietnam. The supply officer was Captain L. N. Brod. Captain
Brod was very similiar to the "Trapper John" character of the MASH television
series.

During the day I worked in the supply office and at night I was assigned
to perimeter watch. But because I was only a PFC at the time I went
on many other "volunteer" assignments that had nothing to do with my supply
duties. One week I was part of a squad of marines that provided security
for a civilian surveying crew. A few other times we were driven to
the top of Hill
327, the high point in the Da Nang area over looking the 3rd Division
Rear and 1st Division CP's and the PX, and then we walked down to Hill
271 where we spent the night on perimeter duty.

In February 1967 I was able to enjoy myself at a USO show where Nancy
Sinatra was doing her "These Boots are made for Walking" thing.
We all hooted and hollered, especially when one Marine offered her a chair
so she could display her charms in the red, white, and blue mini-skirt
she was wearing. Later that month the entire supply platoon spent
an afternoon of recreation at China
Beach. That was a real morale builder.

After being promoted to Lance Corporal, in March I was sent back to
Okinawa for a week of schooling. It was a nice excursion back into
a barracks with running water, sheets, and shelter. I came back to
my unit to learn that we were moving up north to Phu Bai. All the
support units of the 3rd Marine Division were now going to be closer to
their subordinate companies. Yet Phu Bai was still a safer area to
be in then where the forward units were located.

We basically built our base camp at Gia
Le, west of Phu Bai, from scratch. I was part of the advance
party that helped deliver our gear north. So, I made the trip
twice between Da Nang and Phu Bai by "Rough Rider" convoy. It was
actually very scenic. I still remember the ESSO marine gas sign along
the way. For the first six months we lived in tents that were surrounded
with sand bags. We were either damp and cold or hot and sticky.

Again like in Da Nang since I was low in rank I was pulled from my normal
duties frequently to be part of the security forces that went along on
the rough riders going north or west. We would either drive north
through Hue on route 1 to Camp Evans or follow a rugged road named "Cumberland"
to the units in the A Shau Valley needing resupply. Each convoy would take the whole
day going and coming. Lunch was c-rations but at least we didn't
have to stay overnight at either of these places. "Charlie" controlled
the areas in between and the trips were slow going as they had to be swept
for mines each morning.

In October I was promoted to Corporal. Rank came fast in those
days. Morale builders included seeing Martha Raye in Phu Bai and
another beach party, this time at Coco
Beach, east of Hue. Here though we took our weapons with us,
just in case. I was also fortunate to be able to take two R&R's.
Both times I went to the Philippines.
Most of my evenings were either spent on perimeter watch, reactionary squad
duty, or listening post duty.

I went home in January 1968. There is more to tell but for
now enjoy the pictures.